[Kurfurst]

A bit of a summary on the 110C with DB 601N (ca. 20% increased output at all altitudes).

The story in short:

in total, some 4 Gruppen (equivalent of RAF Wings, with ca 12 Squadrons) of Bf 110C were powered by the more powerful DB 601N during the daylight phase of the Battle of Britain. This increased to six Gruppen later.

Evidently, these units were:

II./Z.G. 26,
III./Z.G. 26,
II./Z.G. 76,
Erpr.Gr. 210

This represented about half of the Bf 110 strenght in the Battle, so one can say the 110 just as typically had 601N, not the 601A we have during the Battle. Yet there's no 110C w. 601N modelled.


* Generalluftzeugmeister meeting on 19 July 1940
Notes 3 Gruppen of Bf 110, 1 Gruppe of 109 had been converted to DB 601N engines.

* Generalluftzeugmeister meeting on 19 October 1940
DB 601N is in short supply, therefore existing production is to be used in:
-all new production Bf 109F-1, F-2
-all new production Bf 110C produced by Mtt AG, in order to keep the strenght of the existing 4 Gruppen of DB 601N converted Bf 110 units up.

So evidently a fourth 110 Wing was converted in the meantime.

* Generalluftzeugmeister meeting on 29 October 1940

'four DB 601N conveted Bf 110 Gruppen (Wings), only one Bf 109'

* Generalluftzeugmeister meeting on 8 November 1940

In order to free up DB 601Ns for Bf 109s, the November/December production run of Bf 110s will receive DB 601A instead of 601N.

The following will receive DB 601N:

- final, closing series of Bf 109E (ie. E-7 - KF)
- replacement engines for III./Z.G. 26, Erpr.Gr. 210

Due to shortage of 601N engines, II./Z.G. 26, II./Z.G. 76 will receive only 601A replacemnts. The production of 601N in Janaury will be significantly higher, so 110s can be switched back to the 601N.

As of 1 January 1941 the following number of 'active' (ie. built into a frontline aircraft) 601N engines were reported by units (note: engine count! Each 110 has two engines of course!)

in Bf 109s
Bf 109E-1 : 16 pcs,
Bf 109E-3 : 1 pc,
Bf 109E-4 : 54 pcs,
Bf 109E-6 : 1 pc,
Bf 109E-7 : 34 pcs,
Bf 109E-8 : 2pcs.
Bf 109F-1 : 5 pcs.

Bf 110C-1: 4 Stück
Bf 110C-4: 40 Stück
Bf 110C-5: 12 Stück
Bf 110C-7: 14 Stück
Bf 110D-0: 18 Stück
Bf 110D-2: 20 Stück
Bf 110D-3: 8 Stück
Bf 110E-1: 176 Stück
Bf 110E-2: 14 Stück
total. 306 pieces

ie. 153 Bf 110s.

He 111P : 8 pcs,
Do 215 : 68 pcs

In total 6 Gruppen Bf 110 were reported to have been fitted with 601N.
No new 110-Gruppe is planned to have 601Ns until 1 April 1941.


See also http://www.yogysoft.de/pawel/zerstoerer/001.html , probably taken from Mankau-Petrick's Bf 110, 210, 410 book.